Business Case for Scaling the Production of Tilapia in India: A Report for the SCALE Committee of the Government of India.

The Government of India has committed to a national target to increase fish production to 22 million metric tons by 2024–2025.2 This commitment will benefit 28 million fishers and fish farmers, fish workers, fish vendors and other stakeholders who depend on aquaculture and fisheries for their livelihoods, and almost twice that number of actors along fish-related value chains. It will increase employment opportunities and incomes, empower women and help deliver food and nutrition security. These developmental outcomes are well aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals, the Government of India’s priorities as articulated in policies such as Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY), and the strategic objectives of the authors of this report – WorldFish and the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII). As part of the SCALE committee’s work to advance the growth of the tilapia industry in India, WorldFish and CII have prepared this report to analyze the opportunities and what is needed to significantly expand tilapia production in India. WorldFish has played a major role in promoting nutritious and affordable tilapia globally since the 1980s, especially through its long-standing tilapia genetic improvement program which has widely distributed genetically improved farmed tilapia (GIFT) as a global public good. At present, more than 50% of the global commercial tilapia production is based on GIFT or GIFT-derived strains. Building on its proven success at increasing production at scale for shrimp, India has carried out a ”best bet” species assessment and identified tilapia as a species to pursue based on its suitability for domestic production and rising demand in global markets. It is also a species that can boost production in Indian inland fisheries and help diversify current fish production. To this end, India has set a transformative and ambitious goal to produce 0.766 million metric tons of tilapia by 2026–2027 and 2.155 million metric tons, valued at about USD 4.398 billion (Rs. 32,105 crore), by 2032. The anticipated year-on-year revenue potential from tilapia export is USD 1.135 billion, which is 8% of the total target for Indian seafood export revenue of USD 14 billion by 2027. By 2032 India’s estimated revenue from tilapia export could touch USD 3.92 billion, contributing 15% of the targeted USD 28 billion of fish and marine produce exports from India. India has the required inland fisheries resources to spur sustainable growth in tilapia aquaculture in the coming decades. In 2018–2019, only 58% of India’s inland fisheries potential had been realized. However, to achieve the target of 2.155 million metric tons of tilapia by 2032, India needs to invest in tilapia production infrastructure, including hatcheries, grow-out ponds and reservoir cages. This investment represents a total capital expenditure of approximately Rs. 5,557 crore (USD 761 million) over 10 years. The proposed additional financial support needed by the sector to increase tilapia production – primarily in the form of subsidies and interest subvention4 – is estimated at Rs. 2,587 crore (USD 354 million) by 2032. Investing in boosting India’s tilapia production is predicted to bring a healthy return on investment of 24%–30%, provide new business opportunities, especially for young people and women, and earn foreign currency for India through exports. It will also ensure a steady supply of affordable fish protein to significantly boost nutrition among domestic consumers

WorldFish contributions to the development of Odisha’s fisheries sector

The factsheet provides the details of the technical support given by WorldFish for the development of Fisheries sectors in Odisha during 2016-2022

Preserving cultural heritage: Community fishing among the Rabha community in Assam

The case study depicts the community fishing practices followed by the Rabha community of Assam

Fish Farming for prosperity

This book documents the success of women groups in fish farming under the Odisha Governments flagship program "input assistance to WSHG for scientific pisciculture in GP tanks" over the last three years. This document is produced in collaboration with Fisheries and Animal Resource development department, Department of Mission Shakti, Government of Odisha

A business case for scaling the production of tilapia in India: Synopsis of the Report and Major Recommendations

Brief on the scaling of production of tilapia in India. This document is prepared by WorldFish in collaboration with Confederation of Indian Industry

How to measure women’s empowerment in the context of Agriculture and Nutrition Programs in India?

Presentation notes from BMFG Webinar, WorldFish India panelist

Epidemiology and management of Penaeus monodon farms in Andhra Pradesh, India

Disease outbreaks on shrimp farms studied in Andhra Pradesh were caused mainly by white spot syndrome virus (WSSV) significantly reducing yield. Shrimp seed was the major source of WSSV but several risk factors were also involved. Implementation of better management practices (BMPs) at farm and farm cluster level through formation of Self-Help Groups could significantly improve crop outcomes in farms

Tackling malnutrition in children through the inclusion of dried small fish powder in their diets

Assam continues to grapple with high food insecurity and malnutrition levels, especially among young children and pregnant-lactating women despite its vast resources. Increasing the accessibility, availability and affordability of aquatic foods among consumers will lead to an increase in aquatic foods consumption that will reduce malnutrition and hidden hunger that many nations are experiencing. WorldFish, through the Matsya Paripusti project, aims to improve the nutrition profile of malnourished children and their physical and mental growth by advocating for the inclusion of nutrient-rich dried small fish powder in their mid-day meal program at the Anganwadi centers

Relationship between white spot syndrome virus and indicators of quality in Penaeus monodon postlarvae in Karnataka, India

White spot disease (WSD) is a viral disease of shrimp caused by white spot syndrome virus (WSSV). Stocking WSSV-infected seed has been implicated as a major risk factor for outbreaks of WSD. In addition, the quality of postlarvae batches has been proposed as a predictor for good crops. This paper describes the relationship between indicators of quality and WSSV in postlarvae (PL) of Penaeus monodon from Karnataka, India, over the period September 1999 to January 2000. Three outcome variables were considered: the WSSV status of the PL, as determined by PCR, and 2 subjective assessments of PL quality, namely the activity of the PL and the quality of the PL as determined by research assistants and farmers, respectively. Of the 73 batches of PL, 49.3% from a random sample of farms tested positive for WSSV. After adjusting for confounding, stocking earlier in the growing season and duration of transportation were the main risk factors for the presence of WSSV. The quality assessed by farmers and the PL activity assessed by research assistants showed only fair agreement (kappa 0.252) reaffirming the subjective nature of such techniques. The only variables consistently associated with either assessment of quality in univariate analysis were PL length, number per bag and salinity of the water in the delivery bags. After adjusting for confounding, no single variable was consistently associated with PL quality and activity. The research assistants' assessment of PL activity was also associated with the hatchery and a brown-orange hepatopancreas in univariate analysis. After adjusting for confounding, a brown-orange hepatopancreas was still significant and fitted into the model together with the salinity of the water in the PL bags. The farmers' assessment of quality was associated with PL length, date of stocking and duration of transportation in both univariate and multivariable analyses. There was no relationship between quality assessment and WSSV in PCR-positive PL

Climate-smart and nutrition-sensitive aquaculture in Odisha, India: a new horizon in sustainability, adaptation, and mitigation

The aquaculture sector plays very momentous role in providing nutritionally rich food and livelihood support to the impecunious communities across the developing world thus contributing directly and indirectly to their food security. However, the sector is vulnerable and impacted by climate variability. Changes in remote climate, rising temperatures, changing precipitation patterns, increased frequency of extreme weather events, sea-level rise, etc. are now limiting the production efficiencies and sustainability of the aquatic food production system. Odisha, on India's east coast, is one of the least developed states, with significant levels of food insecurity and malnutrition, particularly in rural areas. Droughts, floods, and other extreme weather phenomena are becoming more common and intense in Odisha. Amidst several restraints, Odisha offers luxuriant freshwater aquatic resources where aquaculture can potentially enhance resilience through improved resource use efficiencies and increased diversification of farmed species, locales of production, and management strategies. Against this backdrop, the government of Odisha has unveiled climate, nutrition, and gender-sensitive fisheries policies with "technological innovations" to address these complex interlinking issues of climate change and food security. The present communication portrayed some of the promising climate-smart, nutrition-sensitive food system approach which is expected to increase productivity, environmental sustainability, and climate change adaptability